• 


THE 

GREEN  HELMET 

AND  OTHER  POEMS 


^        W   B   YEATS 


• 


i 


University  of  California  •  Berkeley 


! 


THE  GREEN  HELMET  AND 
OTHER  POEMS 


THE  GREEN  HELMET  AND      ' 
OTHER  POEMS 

I 
I 
i 
I 


BY 

WILLIAM  BUTLER  YEATS 


NEW  YORK 

THE  MACMILLAN  COMPANY 

LONDON:   MACMILLAN  &  CO.,  Ltd. 

1912 

All  rigJits  reserved 


Copyriglit,  1911,  by 
William  Butlee  Ykats 

Copyright,  1912,  by 
The  ^Iacmillan  Oo. 


Set  up  and  electrotyped.    Published  October,  1912 


THE  GREEN  HELMET  AND 
OTHEE  POEMS 


HIS  DREAM 

I  swayed  upon  the  gaudy  stern 
The  butt  end  of  a  steering  oar, 
And  everywhere  that  I  could  turn 
Men  ran  upon  the  shore. 

And  though  I  would  have  hushed  the 

crowd 
There  was  no  mother  *s  son  but  said, 
*  ^  What  is  the  figure  in  a  shroud 
Upon  a  gaudy  bed  1 '  * 

And  fishes  bubbling  to  the  brim 
Cried  out  upon  that  thing  beneath, 
It  had  such  dignity  of  limb, 
By  the  sweet  name  of  Death. 


2  HIS  DBEAM 

Though  I  'd  my  finger  on  my  lip, 
What  could  I  but  take  up  the  song? 
And  fish  and  crowd  and  gaudy  ship 
Cried  out  the  whole  night  long, 

Crying  amid  the  glittering  sea. 
Naming  it  with  ecstatic  breath. 
Because  it  had  such  dignity 
By  the  sweet  name  of  Death. 


A  WOMAN  HOMER  SUNG 

If  any  man  drew  near 

When  I  was  young, 

I  thought,  '^He  holds  her  dear,'* 

And  shook  with  hate  and  fear. 

But  oh,  't  was  bitter  wrong 

If  he  could  pass  her  by 

With  an  indifferent  eye. 

Whereon  I  wrote  and  wrought, 
And  now,  being  gray, 
I  dream  that  I  have  brought 
To  such  a  pitch  my  thought 
That  coming  time  can  say, 
**He  shadowed  in  a  glass 
What  thing  her  body  was.'' 


A  WOMAN  HOMER  SUNG 


For  she  had  fiery  blood 

i 

When  I  was  young, 

■j 

And  trod  so  sweetly  proud 

j 

1 

As  't  were  upon  a  cloud, 

A  woman  Homer  sung, 

1 

That  life  and  letters  seem 

1 

But  an  heroic  dream. 

i 

i 

\ 
1 

THAT  THE  NIGHT  COME 

She  lived  in  storm  and  strife. 
Her  soul  had  such  desire 
For  what  proud  death  may  bring 
That  it  could  not  endure 
The  common  good  of  life, 
But  lived  as  't  were  a  king 
That  packed  his  marriage  day 
With  banneret  and  pennon, 
Trumpet  and  kettledrum, 
And  the  outrageous  cannon, 
To  bundle  Time  away 
That  the  night  come. 


THE  CONSOLATION 

I  had  this  thought  awhile  ago, 
^^My  darling  cannot  understand 
What  I  have  done,  or  what  would  do 
In  this  blind  bitter  land.'' 

And  I  grew  weary  of  the  sun 
Until  my  thoughts  cleared  up  again, 
Eemembering  that  the  best  I  have  done 
Was  done  to  make  it  plain ; 

That  every  year  I  have  cried,  ^*  At  length 
My  darling  understands  it  all. 
Because  I  have  come  into  my  strength. 
And  words  obey  my  call." 

6 


THE  CONSOLATION  7 

That  had  she  done  so  who  can  say 
What  would  have  shaken  from  the  sieve  ? 
I  might  have  thrown  poor  words  away 
And  been  content  to  live. 


FEIENDS 

Now  must  I  these  three  praise— 
Three  women  that  have  wrought 
What  joy  is  in  my  days ; 
One  that  no  passing  thought, 
Nor  those  unpassing  cares, 
No,  not  in  these  fifteen 
Many  times  troubled  years. 
Could  ever  come  between 
Heart  and  delighted  heart ; 
And  one  because  her  hand 
Had  strength  that  could  unbind 
What  none  can  understand, 
What  none  can  have  and  thrive, 
Youth's  dreamy  load,  till  she 

8 


FRIENDS  9 

So  changed  me  that  I  live 
Labouring  in  ecstasy. 
And  what  of  her  that  took 
All  till  my  youth  was  gone 
With  scarce  a  pitying  look  ? 
How  should  I  praise  that  one  f 
When  day  begins  to  break 
I  count  my  good  and  bad, 
Being  wakeful  for  her  sake, 
Remembering  what  she  had, 
What  eagle  look  still  shows. 
While  up  from  my  hearths  root 
So  great  a  sweetness  flows 
I  shake  from  head  to  foot. 


NO  SECOND  TROY 

Why  should  I  blame  her  that  she  filled 
my  days 

With  misery,  or  that  she  would  of  late 

Have  taught  to  ignorant  men  most  vio- 
lent ways, 

Or  hurled  the  little  streets  upon  the 
great, 

Had  they  but  courage  equal  to  desire  ? 

What  could  have  made  her  peaceful  with 
a  mind 

That  nobleness  made  simple  as  a  fire. 

With  beauty  like  a  tightened  bow,  a  kind 

That  is  not  natural  in  an  age  like  this, 

Being  high  and  solitary  and  most  stern? 

Why,  what  could  she  have  done  being 
what  she  is  ? 

Was  there  another  Troy  for  her  to  burn? 

10 


KECONCILIATION 

Some  may  have  blamed  you  that  you  took 

away 
The  verses  that  could  move  them  on  the 

day 
When,  the  ears  being  deafened,  the  sight 

of  the  eyes  blind 
With  lightning  you  went  from  me,  and  I 

could  find 
Nothing  to  make  a  song  about  but  kings, 
Helmets,  and  swords,  and  half-forgotten 

things 
That  were  like  memories  of  you— but 

now 

We  ^11  out,  for  the  world  lives  as  long  ago ; 

11 


12  BECONCILIATION 

And  while  we  're  in  our  laughing,  weep- 
ing fit, 

Hurl  helmets,  crowns,  and  swords  into 
the  pit. 

But,  dear,  cling  close  to  me ;  since  you 
were  gone, 

My  barren  thoughts  have  chilled  me  to 
the  bone. 


KING  AND  NO  KING 

'  ^  Would  it  were  anything  but  merely 

voice!" 
The  No  King  cried  who  after  that  was 

King, 
Because  he  had  not  heard  of  anything 
That  balanced  with  a  word  is  more 

than  noise ; 
Yet  Old  Romance  being  kind,  let  him 

prevail 
Somewhere  or  somehow  that  I  have 

forgot, 
Though  he  'd  but  cannon— Whereas 

we  that  had  thought 
To  have  lit  upon  as  clean  and  sweet  a 

tale 

13 


14  KING  AND  NO  KING 

Have  been  defeated  by  that  pledge  you 
gave 

In  momentary  anger  long  ago ; 

And  I  that  have  not  your  faith,  how 
shall  I  know 

That  in  the  blinding  light  beyond  the 
grave 

We  '11  find  so  good  a  thing  as  that  we 
have  lost? 

The  hourly  kindness,  the  day's  com- 
mon speech. 

The  habitual  content  of  each  with  each 

When  neither  soul  nor  body  has  been 
crossed. 


THE  COLD  HEAVEN 

Suddenly  I  saw  the  cold  and  rook  de- 
lighting Heaven 
That  seemed  as  though  ice  burned  and 

was  but  the  more  ice, 
And  thereupon  imagination  and  heart 

were  driven 
So  wild,  that  every  casual  thought  of 

that  and  this 
Vanished,  and  left  but  memories,  that 

should  be  out  of  season 
With  the  hot  blood  of  youth,  of  love 

crossed  long  ago ; 
And  I  took  all  the  blame  out  of  all  sense 

and  reason, 

16 


16  TEE  COLD  HEAVEN 

Until  I  cried  and  trembled  and  rocked  to 
and  fro, 

Eiddled  with  light.    Ah !  when  the  ghost 
begins  to  quicken, 

Confusion  of  the  death-bed  over,  is  it 
sent 

Out  naked  on  the  roads,  as  the  books  say, 
and  stricken 

By  the  injustice  of  the  skies  for  punish- 
ment? 


PEACE 

Ah,  that  Time  could  touch  a  form 
That  could  show  what  Homer's  age 
Bred  to  be  a  hero's  wage. 
*^Were  not  all  her  life  but  storm, 
Would  not  painters  paint  a  form 
Of  such  noble  lines''  I  said. 
*  *  Such  a  delicate  high  head, 
So  much  sternness  and  such  charm, 
Till  they  had  changed  us  to  like 

strength?" 
Ah,  but  peace  that  comes  at  length, 
Came  when  Time  had  touched  her  form. 


17  ! 


AGAINST  UNWOETHY  PEAISE 

O  heart,  be  at  peace,  because 
Nor  knave  nor  dolt  can  break 
What  's  not  for  their  applause. 
Being  for  a  woman 's  sake. 
Enough  if  the  work  has  seemed. 
So  did  she  your  strength  renew, 
A  dream  that  a  lion  had  dreamed 
Till  the  wilderness  cried  aloud, 
A  secret  between  you  two. 
Between  the  proud  and  the  proud. 

What,  still  you  would  have  their  praise ! 

But  here  's  a  haughtier  text. 

The  labyrinth  of  her  days 

That  her  own  strangeness  perplexed ; 

18 


AGAINST  UNWORTHY  PRAISE  19 

And  how  what  her  dreaming  gave 
Earned  slander,  ingratitude, 
From  self-same  dolt  and  knave ; 
Aye,  and  worse  wrong  than  these. 
Yet  she,  singing  upon  her  road, 
Half  lion,  half  child,  is  at  peace. 


THE  FASCINATION  OF  WHAT  'S 
DIFFICULT 

The  fascination  of  what  's  difficult 
Has  dried  the  sap  out  of  my  veins,  and 

rent 
Spontaneous  joy  and  natural  content 
Out  of  my  heart.    There  ^s  something 

ails  our  colt 
That  must,  as  if  it  had  not  holy  blood, 
Nor  on  an  Olympus  leaped  from  cloud  to 

cloud. 
Shiver  under  the  lash,  strain,  sweat  and 

jolt 
As  though  it  dragged  road  metal.    My 

curse  on  plays 
That  have  to  be  set  up  in  fifty  ways, 

20 


FASCINATION  OF  WHAT  'S  DIFFICULT  Zl 

On  the  day  ^s  war  with  every  knave  and 

dolt, 
Theatre  business,  management  of  men. 
I  swear  before  the  dawn  comes  round 

again 

I  '11  find  the  stable  and  pull  out  the  bolt. 


A  DEINKING  SONG 

Wine  comes  in  at  the  mouth 
And  love  comes  in  at  the  eye ; 
That  's  all  we  shall  know  for  truth 
Before  we  grow  old  and  die. 
I  lift  the  glass  to  my  mouth, 
I  look  at  you,  and  I  sigh. 


99 


THE  COMING  OF  WISDOM  WITH 

TIME 

Though  leaves  are  many,  the  root  is  one ; 
Through  all  the  lying  days  of  my  youth 
I  swayed  my  leaves  and  flowers  in  the 

sun; 
Now  I  may  wither  into  the  truth. 


23 


ON  HEARING  THAT  THE  STU- 
DENTS OF  OUR  NEW  UNIVER- 
SITY HAVE  JOINED  THE  AN- 
CIENT ORDER  OF  HIBERNIANS 
AND  THE  AGITATION  AGAINST 
IMMORAL  LITERATURE 

Where,  where  but  here  have  Pride  and 

Truth, 
That  long  to  give  themselves  for  wage, 
To  shake  their  wicked  sides  at  youth 
Restraining  reckless  middle-age. 


24 


TO  A  POET,  WHO  WOULD  HAVE  ME 
PRAISE  CEETAIN  BAD  POETS, 
IMITATORS  OF  HIS  AND  MINE 

You  say,  as  I  have  often  given  tongue 
In  praise  of  what  another  's  said  or  sung, 
'T  were  politic  to  do  the  like  by  these ; 
But  where  's  the  wild  dog  that  has 
praised  his  fleas  ? 


25 


THE  ATTACK  ON  THE 
^^PLAY  BOY'' 

Once,  when  midnight  smote  the  air, 
Eunuchs  ran  through  Hell  and  met 
Eound  about  Hell's  gate,  to  stare 
At  great  Juan  riding  by, 
And  like  these  to  rail  and  sweat, 
Maddened  by  that  sinewy  thigh. 


26 


A  LYRIC  FROM  AN  UNPUBLISHED 

PLAY 

'  ^  Put  off  that  mask  of  burning  gold 
With  emerald  eyes.'' 

*  ^  0  no,  my  dear,  you  make  so  bold 

To  find  if  hearts  be  wild  and  wise, 
And  yet  not  cold. ' ' 

'  *  I  would  but  find  what  's  there  to  find, 

Love  or  deceit.'' 
^  ^  It  was  the  mask  engaged  your  mind, 

And  after  set  your  heart  to  beat. 

Not  what  's  behind." 

*  ^  But  lest  you  are  my  enemy, 

I  must  enquire. ' ' 
^  ^  0  no,  my  dear,  let  all  that  be. 
What  matter,  so  there  is  but  fire 
In  you,  in  me  ? " 


27 


UPON  A  HOUSE  SHAKEN  BY 
THE  LAND  AGITATION 

How  should  the  world  be  luckier  if  this 

house, 
Where  passion  and  precision  have  been 

one 
Time  out  of  mind,  became  too  ruinous 
To  breed  the  lidless  eye  that  loves  the 

sun? 
And  the  sweet  laughing  eagle  thoughts 

that  grow 
Where  wings  have  memory  of  wings, 

and  all 
That  comes  of  the  best  knit  to  the  best? 

Although 
Mean  roof-trees  were  the  sturdier  for  its 

fall, 

28 


HOUSE  SHAKEN  BY  LAND  AGITATION  29 

How  should  their  luck  run  high  enough 

to  reach 
The  gifts  that  govern  men,  and  after 

these 
To  gradual  Time's  last  gift,  a  written 

speech 
Wrought  of  high  laughter,  loveliness 

and  ease? 


AT  THE  ABBEY  THEATEE 

Imitated  from  Ronsard 

Dear  Craoibhin  Aoibhin,  look  into  our 
case. 

When  we  are  high  and  airy  hundreds  say 

That  if  we  hold  that  flight  they  '11  leave 
the  place, 

While  those  same  hundreds  mock  an- 
other day 

Because  we  have  made  our  art  of  com- 
mon things, 

So  bitterly,  you  'd  dream  they  longed 
to  look 

All  their  lives  through  into  some  drift 
of  wings. 


o 


0 


AT  THE  ABBEY  THEATRE  31 

You  've  dandled  them  and  fed  them  from 

the  book 
And  know  them  to  the  bone ;  impart 

to  us— 
We  '11  keep  the  secret— a  new  trick  to 

please. 
Is  there  a  bridle  for  this  Proteus 
That  turns  and  changes  like  his  draughty 

seas? 
Or  is  there  none,  most  popular  of  men, 
But  when  they  mock  us  that  we  mock 

again? 


THESE  AEE  THE  CLOUDS 

These  are  the  clouds  about  the  fallen  sun, 

The  majesty  that  shuts  his  burning  eye ; 

The  weak  lay  hand  on  what  the  strong 
has  done, 

Till  that  be  tumbled  that  was  lifted  high 

And  discord  follow  upon  unison. 

And  all  things  at  one  common  level  lie. 

And  therefore,  friend,  if  your  great  race 
were  run 

And  these  things  came,  so  much  the  more 
thereby 

Have  you  made  greatness  your  com- 
panion, 

Although  it  be  for  children  that  you 
sigh: 

These  are  the  clouds  about  the  fallen  sun, 

The  majesty  that  shuts  his  burning  eye. 

32 


AT  GALWAY  RACES 

Out  yonder,  where  the  race  course  is, 
Delight  makes  all  of  the  one  mind, 
Riders  upon  the  swift  horses, 
The  field  that  closes  in  behind : 
We,  too,  had  good  attendance  once, 
Hearers  and  hearteners  of  the  work ; 
Aye,  horsemen  for  companions. 
Before  the  merchant  and  the  clerk 
Breathed  on  the  world  with  timid  breath. 
Sing  on :  sometime,  and  at  some  new 

moon, 
We  ^11  learn  that  sleeping  is  not  death, 
Hearing  the  whole  earth  change  its  tune, 
Its  flesh  being  wild,  and  it  again 
Crying  aloud  as  the  race  course  is. 
And  we  find  hearteners  among  men 
That  ride  upon  horses. 

33 


A  FRIEND'S  ILLNESS  i 

Sickness  brought  me  this  ; 

,i 

Thought,  in  that  scale  of  his :  ; 

AVhy  should  I  be  dismayed  i 

Though  flame  had  burned  the  whole  i 

World,  as  it  were  a  coal,  ; 

Now  I  have  seen  it  weighed 

Against  a  soul! 


34 


ALL  THINGS  CAN  TEMPT  ME 

All  things  can  tempt  me  from  this  craft 
of  verse : 

One  time  it  was  a  woman's  face,  or 
worse— 

The  seeming  needs  of  my  fool-driven 
land; 

Now  nothing  but  comes  readier  to  the 
hand 

Than  this  accustomed  toil.    When  I  was 
young, 

I  had  not  given  a  penny  for  a  song 

Did  not  the  poet  sing  it  with  such  airs 

That  one  believed  he  had  a  sword  up- 
stairs ; 

35 


i 


36  ALL  THINGS  CAN  TEMPT  ME 

Yet  would  be  now,  could  I  but  have  my 

wish, 
Colder  and  dumber  and  deafer  than  a 

fish. 


THE  YOUNG  MAN'S  SONG 

I  whispered,  ^^I  am  too  young/' 
And  then,  ''I  am  old  enough,'' 
Wherefore  I  threw  a  penny 
To  find  out  if  I  might  love ; 
'  ^  Go  and  love,  go  and  love,  young  man, 
If  the  lady  be  young  and  fair, ' ' 
Ah,  penny,  brown  penny,  brown  penny, 
I  am  looped  in  the  loops  of  her  hair. 

Oh  love  is  the  crooked  thing, 
There  is  nobody  wise  enough 
To  find  out  all  that  is  in  it. 
For  he  would  be  thinking  of  love 
Till  the  stars  had  run  away, 
And  the  shadows  eaten  the  moon ; 
Ah,  penny,  brown  penny,  brown  penny. 
One  cannot  begin  it  too  soon. 

37 


THE  GREEN  HELMET 
An  Heroic  Farce 


the  persons  of  the  play 
Laegaire  Laegaire  's  Wife 

CONALL  CoNALL's  WiFE 

CucHULAiN  Laeg,  Cuckulaiu^s 

Emer  chariot-driver 

Eed  Man,  A  Spirit 

Horse  Boys  and  Scullions, 
Black  Men,  etc. 


THE  GREEN  HELMET 

An  Heroic  Farce 

Scene:  A  house  made  of  logs.  There 
are  two  windows  at  the  back  and  a  door 
which  cuts  off  one  of  the  corners  of  the 
room.  Through  the  door  one  can  see  low 
rocks  which  make  the  ground  outside 
higher  than  it  is  within,  and  beyond  the 
rocks  a  misty  moon-lit  sea.  Through  the 
windows  one  can  see  nothing  but  the  sea. 
There  is  a  great  chair  at  the  opposite 
side  to  the  door,  and  in  front  of  it  a  table 
with  cups  and  a  flagon  of  ale.  Here  and 
there  are  stools. 

At  the  Abbey  Theatre  the  house  is 
orange  red  and  the  chairs  and  tables  and 
flagons  black,  with  a  slight  purple  tinge 
which  is  not  clearly  distinguishable  from 
the  black.  The  rocks  are  black  with  a 
feiv  green  touches.  The  sea  is  green  and 
luminous,  and  all  the  characters  except 

41 


42  TEB  GEEEN  HELMET 

the  Red  Man  and  the  Black  Men  are 
dressed  in  various  shades  of  green,  one 
or  two  with  touches  of  purple  which  look 
nearly  black.  The  Black  Men  all  wear 
dark  purple  and  have  eared  caps,  and  at 
the  end  their  eyes  should  look  green  from 
the  reflected  light  of  the  sea.  The  Red 
Man  is  altogether  in  red.  He  is  very  tall, 
and  his  height  increased  by  horns  on  the 
Green  Helmet.  The  effect  is  intention- 
ally violent  and  startling. 

Laegaike 
What  is  that  ?    I  had  thought  that  I  saw, 

though  but  in  the  wink  of  an  eye, 
A  cat-headed  man  out  of  Connaught  go 

pacing  and  spitting  by ; 
But  that  could  not  be. 

CONALL 

You  have  dreamed  it— there's 
nothing  out  there. 


AND  OTHER  POEMS  43 

I  killed  them  all  before  daybreak— I 
hoked  them  out  of  their  lair ; 

I  cut  off  a  hundred  heads  with  a  single 
stroke  of  my  sword, 

And  then  I  danced  on  their  graves  and 
carried  away  their  hoard. 

Laegaire 
Does  anything  stir  on  the  sea! 

CONALL 

Not  even  a  fish  or  a  gull : 
I  can  see  for  a  mile  or  two,  now  that  the 
moon^s  at  the  full. 

{A  distant  shout.'] 

Laegaire 
Ah— there— there  is  someone  who  calls 
us. 


44  THE  GBEEN  HELMET 

CONALL 

But  from  the  landward  side, 
And  we  have  nothing  to  fear  that  has  not 

come  up  from  the  tide ; 
The  rocks  and  the  bushes  cover  whoever 

made  that  noise, 
But  the  land  will  do  us  no  harm. 

Laegaike 
It  was  like  Cuchulain's  voice. 

CONALL 

But  that's  an  impossible  thing. 

Laegaire 
An  impossible  thing  indeed. 

CONALL 

For  he  will  never  come  home,  he  has  all 
that  he  could  need 


AND  OTHER  POEMS  45 

In  that  high  windy  Scotland— good  luck 
in  all  that  he  does. 

Here  neighbour  wars  on  neighbour  and 
why  there  is  no  man  knows, 

And  if  a  man  is  lucky  all  wish  his  luck 
away, 

And  take  his  good  name  from  him  be- 
tween a  day  and  a  day. 

Laegaire 
I  would  he'd  come  for  all  that,  and  make 

his  young  wife  know 
That  though  she  may  be  his  wife,  she  has 

no  right  to  go 
Before  your  wife  and  my  wife,  as  she 

would  have  gone  last  night 
Had  they  not  caught  at  her  dress,  and 

pulled  her  as  was  right ; 


46  THE  GBEEN  HELMET 

And  she  makes  light  of  us  though  our 

wives  do  all  that  they  can. 
She  spreads  her  tail  like  a  peacock  and 

praises  none  hut  her  man. 

CONALL 

A  man  in  a  long  green  cloak  that  covers 

him  up  to  the  chin 

Comes  down  through  the  rocks  and 

hazels. 

Laegaire 

Cry  out  that  he  cannot  come  in. 

CONALL 

He  must  look  for  his  dinner  elsewhere, 

for  no  one  alive  shall  stop 
Where  a  shame  must  alight  on  us  two 

before  the  dawn  is  up. 


AND  OTHER  POEMS  47 

Laegaire 
No  man  on  the  ridge  of  the  world  must 
ever  know  that  but  us  two. 

CONALL 

[Outside  door] 
Go  away,  go  away,  go  away. 

Young  Man 
[Outside  door] 
I  will  go  when  the  night  is  through 
And  I  have  eaten  and  slept  and  drunk  to 
my  heart's  delight. 

CONALL 

A  law  has  been  made  that  none  shall 
sleep  in  this  house  to-night. 

Young  Man 
"Who  made  that  law? 


48  TEE  GBEEN  HELMET 

CONALL 

We  made  it,  and  who  has  so  good  a  right  ? 
Who  else  has  to  keep  the  house  from  the 
Shape- Changers  till  day? 

Young  Man 

Then  I  will  unmake  the  law,  so  get  you 

out  of  the  way. 

[He  pushes  past  Conall  and  goes 
into  house] 

CoNALL 

I  thought  that  no  living  man  could  have 

pushed  me  from  the  door. 
Nor  could  any  living  man  do  it  but  for 

the  dip  in  the  floor ; 
And  had  I  been  rightly  ready  there's  no 

man  living  could  do  it, 
Dip  or  no  dip. 


AND  OTHER  POEMS  49 

Laegaiee 
Go  out— if  you  have  your  wits,  go  out, 
A  stone's  throw  further  on  you  will  find 

a  big  house  where 
Our  wives  will  give  you  supper,  and 

you  '11  sleep  sounder  there, 
For  it's  a  luckier  house. 

Young  Man 
I'll  eat  and  sleep  where  I  will. 

Laegaiee 
Go  out  or  I  will  make  you. 

Young  Man 

[Forcing  up  Laegaiee 's  arm,  passing 

Mm  and  putting  his  shield  on  the  wall 

over  the  chair] 

Not  till  I  have  drunk  my  fill. 


50  TEE  GEEEN  HELMET 

But  may  some  dog  defend  me  for  a  cat  of 

wonder's  up. 
Laegaire  and  Conall  are  here,  the  flagon 

full  to  the  top, 
And  the  cups— 

Laegaire 

It  is  Cuchulain. 

CUCHULAIN 

The  cups  are  dry  as  a  bone. 
[He  sits  on  chair  and  drinks] 

CoNALL 

Go  into  Scotland  again,  or  where  you 

will,  but  begone 
From  this  unlucky  country  that  was 

made  when  the  devil  spat. 


AND  OTHER  POEMS  51 

CUCHULAIN 

If  I  lived  here  a  hundred  years,  could  a 

worse  thing  come  than  that 
Laegaire  and  Conall  should  know  me  and 

bid  me  begone  to  my  face  ! 


Conall 
We  bid  you  begone  from  a  house  that 
has  fallen  on  shame  and  disgrace. 


CUCHULAIN 

I  am  losing  patience,  Conall— I  find  you 

stuffed  with  pride, 
The  flagon  full  to  the  brim,  the  front 

door  standing  wide ; 
You'd  put  me  off  with  words,  but  the 

whole  thing's  plain  enough, 


52  THE  GBEEN  HELMET 

You  are  waiting  for  some  message  to 

bring  you  to  war  or  love 
In  that  old  secret  country  beyond  the 

wool- white  waves, 
Or  it  may  be  down  beneath  them  in 

foam-bewildered  caves 
Where  nine  forsaken  sea  queens  fling 

shuttles  to  and  fro ; 
But  beyond  them,  or  beneath  them, 

whether  you  will  or  no, 
I  am  going  too. 


Laegaike 
Better  tell  it  all  out  to  the  end ; 
He  was  born  to  luck  in  the  cradle,  his 

good  luck  may  amend 
The  bad  luck  we  were  born  to. 


AND  OTHER  POEMS  53 

CONALL 

I'll  lay  the  whole  thing  bare. 
You  saw  the  luck  that  he  had  when  he 

pushed  in  past  me  there. 
Does  anything  stir  on  the  sea  ? 

Laegaire 
Not  even  a  fish  or  a  gull. 

CoNALL 

You  were  gone  but  a  little  while.    We 
were  there  and  the  ale-cup  full. 

We  were  half  drunk  and  merry,  and  mid- 
night on  the  stroke 

When  a  wide,  high  man  came  in  with  a 
red  foxy  cloak, 

With  half- shut  foxy  eyes  and  a  great 
laughing  mouth. 


54  TEE  GBEEN  HELMET 

And  he  said  when  we  bid  him  drink,  that 

he  had  so  great  a  drouth 
He  could  drink  the  sea. 


CUCHULAIN 

I  thought  he  had  come  from  one  of  you 
Out  of  some  Connaught  rath,  and  would 

lap  up  milk  and  mew ; 
But  if  he  so  loved  water  I  have  the  tale 
awry. 

CONALL 

You  would  not  be  so  merry  if  he  were 

standing  by, 
For  when  we  had  sung  or  danced  as  he 

were  our  next  of  kin 
He  promised  to  show  us  a  game,  the  best 

that  ever  had  been ; 


AND  OTHER  POEMS  55 

And  when  we  had  asked  what  game,  he 
answered,  ' '  Why,  whip  off  my  head ! 

Then  one  of  you  two  stoop  down,  and  I'll 
whip  off  his, ' '  he  said. 

*^A  head  for  a  head,*'  he  said,  ^^that  is 
the  game  that  I  play. ' ' 

CUCHULAIN 

How  could  he  whip  off  a  head  when  his 
own  had  been  whipped  away? 

CONALL 

We  told  him  it  over  and  over,  and  that 

ale  had  fuddled  his  wit, 
But  he  stood  and  laughed  at  us  there,  as 

though  his  sides  would  split, 
Till  I  could  stand  it  no  longer,  and 

whipped  off  his  head  at  a  blow, 


56  TEE  GBEEN  EELMET 

Being  mad  that  he  did  not  answer,  and 

more  at  his  laughing  so, 
And  there  on  the  ground  where  it  fell  it 

went  on  laughing  at  me. 

Laegaikb 
Till  he  took  it  up  in  his  hands— 

CONALL 

And  splashed  himself  into  the  sea. 

CUCHXJLAIN 

I  have  imagined  as  good  when  I've  been 
as  deep  in  the  cup. 

Laegaiee 
You  never  did. 

CUCHULAIN 

And  believed  it. 


AND  OTHER  POEMS  57 

CONALL 

Cuchulain,  when  will  you  stop 

Boasting  of  your  great  deeds,  and  weigh- 
ing yourself  with  us  two, 

And  crying  out  to  the  world  whatever  we 
say  or  do, 

That  you Ve  said  or  done  a  better?— Nor 
is  it  a  drunkard's  tale, 

Though  we  said  to  ourselves  at  first  that 
it  all  came  out  of  the  ale. 

And  thinking  that  if  we  told  it  we  should 
be  a  laughing-stock, 

Swore  we  should  keep  it  secret. 

Laegaire 
But  twelve  months  upon  the  clock. 

CONALL 

A  twelvemonth  from  the  first  time. 


58  the  gbeen  helmet 

Laegaike 
And  the  jug  full  up  to  the  brim : 
For  we  had  been  put  from  our  drinking 
by  the  very  thought  of  him. 

CONALL 

We  stood  as  we're  standing  now. 

Laegaike 
The  horns  were  as  empty. 

CONALL 

When 
He  ran  up  out  of  the  sea  with  his  head  on 
his  shoulders  again. 

CUCHULAIN 

Why,  this  is  a  tale  worth  telling. 


AND  OTHER  POEMS  59 

CONALL 

And  he  called  for  his  debt  and  his  right. 
And  said  that  the  land  was  disgraced 
because  of  us  two  from  that  night 
If  we  did  not  pay  him  his  debt. 

Laegaire 
What  is  there  to  be  said 
When  a  man  with  a  right  to  get  it  has 
come  to  ask  for  your  head? 

CONALL 

If  you  had  been  sitting  there  you  had 
been  silent  like  us. 

Laegaire 
He  said  that  in  twelve  months  more  he 

would  come  again  to  this  house 
And  ask  his  debt  again.    Twelve  months 

are  up  to-day. 


60  THE  GBEEN  HELMET 

CONALL 

He  would  have  followed  after  if  we  had 

run  away. 

Laegaire 

Will  he  tell  every  mother's  son  that  we 

have  broken  our  word  ? 

CUCHULAIN 

Whether  he  does  or  does  not  we'll  drive 

him  out  with  the  sword, 
And  take  his  life  in  the  bargain  if  he  but 

dare  to  scoff. 

CONALL 

How  can  you  fight  with  a  head  that 
laughs  when  you  Ve  whipped  it  oif  ? 

Laegaire 
Or  a  man  that  can  pick  it  up  and  carry  it 
out  in  his  hand  1 


A2^D  OTHER  POEMS  61 

CONALL 

He  is  coming  now,  there's  a  splash  and  a 

rumble  along  the  strand 
As  when  he  came  last. 


CUCHULAIN 

Come,  and  put  all  your  backs  to  the  door. 
[A  tall,  red-headed,  red-cloaked 
man  stands  upon  the  threshold 
against  the  misty  green  of  the 
sea;  the  ground,  higher  without 
than  within  the  house,  makes  him 
seem  taller  even  than  he  is.  He 
leans  upon  a  great  two-handed 
sword] 


Laegaike 
It  is  too  late  to  shut  it,  for  there  he 

stands  once  more 
And  laughs  like  the  sea. 


62  TEE  GBEEN  HELMET 

CUCHULAIN 

Old  herring— You  whip  off  heads !   Why, 

then 
Whip  off  your  own,  for  it  seems  you  can 

clap  it  on  again. 
Or  else  go  down  in  the  sea,  go  down  in 

the  sea,  I  say, 
Find  that  old  juggler  Manannan  and 

whip  his  head  away ; 
Or  the  Eed  Man  of  the  Boyne,  for  they 

are  of  your  own  sort, 
Or  if  the  waves  have  vexed  you  and  you 

would  find  a  sport 
Of  a  more  Irish  fashion,  go  fight  without 

a  rest 
A  caterwauling  phantom  among  the 

winds  of  the  west. 


AND  OTHER  FOEMS  63 

But  what  are  you  waiting  for  ?  into  the 

water,  I  say ! 
If  there's  no  sword  can  harm  you,  IVe 

an  older  trick  to  play, 
An  old  five-fingered  trick  to  tumble  you 

out  of  the  place ; 

I  am  Sualtim's  son  Cuchulain— what,  do 
you  laugh  in  my  face  ? 


Red  Mait 

So  you  too  think  me  in  earnest  in  wager- 
ing poll  for  poll ! 

A  drinking  joke  and  a  gibe  and  a  jug- 
gler's feat,  that  is  all. 

To  make  the  time  go  quickly— for  I  am 
the  drinker's  friend. 


64  TEE  GBEEN  HELMET 

The  kindest  of  all  Shape- Changers  from 

here  to  the  world's  end, 
The  best  of  all  tipsy  companions.    And 

now  I  bring  you  a  gift : 
I  will  lay  it  there  on  the  ground  for  the 

best  of  you  all  to  lift, 
[He  lays  his  Helmet  on  the  ground] 
And  wear  upon  his  own  head,  and  choose 

for  yourselves  the  best. 
0 !  Laegaire  and  Conall  are  brave,  but 

they  were  afraid  of  my  jest. 
Well,  maybe  I  jest  too  grimly  when  the 

ale  is  in  the  cup. 

There,  I  'm  forgiven  now— 

[Then  in  a  more  solemn  voice  as  he 
goes  out] 

Let  the  bravest  take  it  up. 

[Conall  takes  up  Helmet  and  gazes 
at  it  with  delight] 


and  other  poems  65 

Laegaire 
[Singing,  ivith  a  swaggering  stride] 
Laegaire  is  best ; 
Between  water  and  hill, 
He  fought  in  the  west 
With  cat  heads,  until 
At  the  break  of  day 
All  fell  by  his  sword. 
And  he  carried  away 
Their  hidden  hoard. 

[He  seizes  the  Hehnet] 

CONALL 

Give  it  me,  for  what  did  you  find  in  the 

bag 
But  the  straw  and  the  broken  delf  and 

the  bits  of  dirty  rag 
You'd  taken  for  good  money? 


66  TEE  GBEEN  HELMET 

CUCHULAIN 

No,  no,  but  give  it  me. 

[He  takes  Helmet] 

CONALL 

The  Helmet's  mine  or  Laegaire's — 
you're  the  youngest  of  us  three. 

CuCHULAIN 

[Filling  Helmet  tvitli  ale] 
I  did  not  take  it  to  keep  it— the  Bed  Man 

gave  it  for  one, 
But  I  shall  give  it  to  all— to  all  of  us 

three  or  to  none ; 
That  is  as  you  look  upon  it— we  will  pass 

it  to  and  fro. 
And  time  and  time  about,  drink  out  of  it 

and  so 


AND  OTHER  POEMS  67 

Stroke  into  peace  this  cat  that  has  come 

to  take  our  lives. 
Now  it  is  purring  again,  and  now  I  drink 

to  your  wives, 

And  I  drink  to  Emer,  my  wife. 

[A  great  noise  without  and  shouting] 

Why,  what  in  God's  name  is  that  noise? 


CONALL 

What  else  but  the  charioteers  and  the 

kitchen  and  stable  boys 

Shouting  against  each  other,  and  the 

worst  of  all  is  your  own, 
That  chariot-driver,  Laeg,  and  they'll 

keep  it  up  till  the  dawn. 

And  there's  not  a  man  in  the  house  that 

will  close  his  eyes  to-night, 


68  THE  GBEEN  HELMET 

Or  be  able  to  keep  them  from  it,  or  know 

what  set  them  to  fight. 

[A  noise  of  horns  without] 
There,  do  you  hear  them  now?  such 

hatred  has  each  for  each 
They  have  taken  the  hunting  horns  to 

drown  one  other's  speech 
For  fear  the  truth  may  prevail.— Here's 

your  good  health  and  long  life, 
And,  though  she  be  quarrelsome,  good 

health  to  Emer,  your  wife. 

[The  Charioteers,  Stable  Boys  and 
Kitchen  Boys  come  running  in. 
They  carry  great  horns,  ladles 
and  the  like] 

Laeg 
I  am  Laeg,  Cuchulain's  driver,  and  my 
master's  cock  of  the  yard. 


AND  OTHER  POEMS  69 

Another 
Conall  would  scatter  his  feathers. 

[Confused  murmurs] 

Laegaire 
[To  Cuchulain] 
No  use,  they  won^t  hear  a  word. 

Conall 
They'll  keep  it  up  till  the  dawn. 

Another 
It  is  Laegaire  that  is  the  best, 
For  he  fought  with  cats  in  Connaught 

while  Conall  took  his  rest 
And  drained  his  ale  pot. 

Another 
Laegaire— what  does  a  man  of  his  sort 
Care  for  the  like  of  us?    He  did  it  for  his 
own  sport. 


70  TEE  GREEN  HELMET 

Another 
It  was  all  mere  luck  at  the  best. 

Another 
But  Conall,  I  say— 

Another 

Let  me  speak. 
Laeg 

You'd  be  dumb  if  the  cock  of  the  yard 

would  but  open  his  beak. 

Another 
Before  your  cock  was  born,  my  master 
was  in  the  fight. 

Laeg 
Go  home  and  praise  your  grand-dad. 

They  took  to  the  horns  for  spite, 
For  I  said  that  no  cock  of  your  sort  had 

been  born  since  the  fight  began. 


and  other  foe  ms  71 

Another 
Conall  has  got  it,  the  best  man  has  got  it, 
and  I  am  his  man. 

CUCHULAIN 

Who  was  it  started  this  quarrel? 

A  Stable  Boy 

It  was  Laeg. 

Another 
It  was  Laeg  done  it  all. 

Laeg 
A  high,  wide,  foxy  man  came  where  we 

sat  in  the  hall, 
Getting  our  supper  ready,  with  a  great 

voice  like  the  wind, 
And  cried  that  there  was  a  helmet,  or 

something  of  the  kind, 


72  TEE  GBEEN  HELMET 

That  was  for  the  foremost  man  upon  the 

ridge  of  the  earth. 

So  I  cried  your  name  through  the  hall, 

[The  others  cry  out  and  blow  horns, 
partly  drowning  the  rest  of  his 
speech^ 

but  they  denied  its  worth, 

Preferring  Laegaire  or  Conall,  and  they 

cried  to  drown  my  voice ; 
But  I  have  so  strong  a  throat  that  I 

drowned  all  their  noise 
Till  they  took  to  the  hunting  horns  and 

blew  them  into  my  face, 
And  as  neither  side  would  give  in— we 

would  settle  it  in  this  place. 
Let  the  Helmet  be  taken  from  Conall. 

A  Stable  Boy 
No,  Conall  is  the  best  man  here. 


and  other  poems  73 

Another 
Give  it  to  Laegaire  that  made  the  mur- 
derous cats  pay  dear. 

CUCHULAIN 

It  has  been  given  to  none :  that  our 

rivalry  might  cease, 
We  have  turned  that  murderous  cat  into 

a  cup  of  peace. 
I  drank  the  first ;  and  then  Conall ;  give 
it  to  Laegaire  now, 

[Conall  gives  Helmet  to  Laegaire] 
That  it  may  purr  in  his  hand  and  all  of 

our  servants  know 
That  since  the  ale  went  in,  its  claws  went 

out  of  sight. 

A  Servant 
That's  well— I  will  stop  my  shouting. 


74      the  gbeen  helmet 

Another 

Cuchulain  is  in  the  right ; 
I  am  tired  of  this  big  horn  that  has  made 
me  hoarse  as  a  rook. 

Laeg 
Cuchulain,  you  drank  the  first. 

Another 
By  drinking  the  first  he  took 
The  whole  of  the  honours  himself. 

Laeg 
Cuchulain,  you  drank  the  first. 

Another 
If  Laegaire  drink  from  it  now  he  claims 
to  be  last  and  worst. 


AND  OTHER  POEMS  75 

Anothek 
Cuchulain  and  Conall  have  drunk. 

Another 
He  is  lost  if  he  taste  a  drop. 

Laegaiee 
[Laying  Helmet  on  table'] 
Did  you  claim  to  be  better  than  us  by- 
drinking  first  from  the  cup? 

Cuchulain 

[His  words  are  partly  drowned  by 
the  murmurs  of  the  crowd  though 
he  speaks  very  loud] 

That  juggler  from  the  sea,  that  old  red 

herring  it  is 
Who  has  set  us  all  by  the  ears— he 

brought  the  Helmet  for  this, 
And  because  we  would  not  quarrel  he 

ran  elsewhere  to  shout 


76  TEE  GEEEN  HELMET 

That  Conall  and  Laegaire  wronged  me, 

till  all  had  fallen  ont. 

[The  murmur  grows  less  so  that 
his  words  are  heard] 

Who  knows  where  he  is  now  or  who  he  is 

spurring  to  fight  ? 
So  get  you  gone,  and  whatever  may  cry 

aloud  in  the  night, 
Or  show  itself  in  the  air,  be  silent  until 

morn. 

A  Servant 
Cuchulain  is  in  the  right— I  am  tired  of 
this  big  horn. 

Cuchulain 
Go! 

[The  Servants  turn  toward  the 
door  hut  stop  on  hearing  the 
voices  of  Women  outside] 


AND  OTHER  POEMS  77 

Laegaire's  Wife 
[Without] 
Mine  is  the  better  to  look  at. 

Conall's  Wife 
[Without] 
But  mine  is  better  bom. 

Emer 
[Without] 
My  man  is  the  pithier  man. 

Cuchulain 

Old  hurricane,  well  done ! 
You  Ve  set  our  wives  to  the  game  that 

they  may  egg  us  on ; 
We  are  to  kill  each  other  that  you  may 
sport  with  us. 


78  TEE  GBEEN  HELMET 

Ah,  now,  they  Ve  begun  to  wrestle  as  to 

who  *11  be  first  at  the  house. 

[The  Women  come  to  the  door 
struggling] 

Emer 
No,  I  have  the  right  of  place  for  I  mar- 
ried the  better  man. 

CoNALL^s  Wife 
{Pulling  Emeu  haclc] 
My  nails  in  your  neck  and  shoulder. 

Laegaire's  Wife 
And  go  before  me  if  you  can. 
My  husband  fought  in  the  West. 

Conall's  Wife 

[Kneeling  in  the  door  so  as  to  keep 
the  others  out  who  pull  at  her] 

But  what  did  he  fight  with  there 


AND  OTHER  POEMS  79 

But  sidelong  and  spitting  and  helpless 

shadows  of  the  dim  air? 
And  what  did  he  carry  away  but  straw 

and  broken  delf  ? 


Laegaire's  Wife 
Your  own  man  made  up  that  tale  trem- 
bling alone  by  himself, 
Drowning  his  terror. 


Emer 
[Forcing  herself  in  front] 
I  am  Emer,  it  is  I  go  first  through  the 

door. 
No  one  shall  walk  before  me,  or  praise 

any  man  before 
My  man  has  been  praised. 


80  TEE  GEEEN  HELMET 

CUCHULAIN 

[Spreading  his  arms  across  the  door 
so  as  to  close  it] 

Come,  put  an  end  to  their  quarrelling : 

One  is  as  fair  as  the  other,  and  each  one 

the  wife  of  a  king. 
Break  down  the  painted  boards  between 

the  sill  and  the  floor 
That  they  come  in  together,  each  one  at 

her  own  door. 

[Laegaire  and  Conai^l  begin  to 
break  out  the  bottoms  of  the  win- 
dows, then  their  wives  go  to  the 
windows,  each  to  the  window 
where  her  husband  is,  Emer 
stands  at  the  door  and  sings 
while  the  boards  are  being  broken 
out] 

Emer 

Nothing  that  he  has  done, 

His  mind  that  is  fire, 


AND  OTHER  POEMS  81 

His  body  that  is  sun, 

Have  set  my  head  higher 

Than  all  the  world's  wives. 

Himself  on  the  wind 

Is  the  gift  that  he  gives, 

Therefore  womenkind, 

When  their  eyes  have  met  mine, 

Grow  cold  and  grow  hot, 

Troubled  as  with  wine 

By  a  secret  thought. 

Preyed  upon,  fed  upon 

By  jealousy  and  desire. 

I  am  moon  to  that  sun, 

I  am  steel  to  that  fire, 

[The  windows  are  now  broken  down 
to  floor.  CucHULAiN  takes  his 
spear  from  the  door,  and  the 
three  Women  come  in  at  the 
same  moment] 


82  TEE  GBEEN  HELMET 

Emek 
Cuchulain,  put  off  this  sloth  and  awake : 
I  will  sing  till  I  Ve  stiffened  your  lip 

against  every  knave  that  would  take 
A  share  of  your  honour. 

Laegaike  's  Wife 
You  lie,  for  your  man  would  take  from 
my  man. 

Conall's  Wife 
[To  Laegaire's  Wife] 
You  say  that,  you  double-face,  and  your 
own  husband  began. 

Cuchulain 
[Taking  up  Helmet  from  table] 
Town  land  may  rail  at  town  land  till  all 
have  gone  to  wrack. 


AND  OTHER  POEMS  83 

The  very  straws  may  wrangle  till  they  Ve 

thrown  down  the  stack ; 
The  very  door-posts  bicker  till  they've 

pulled  in  the  door, 
The  very  ale-jars  jostle  till  the  ale  is  on 

the  floor, 
But  this  shall  help  no  further. 

[He  throws  Helmet  into  the  sea] 


Laegaiee  's  Wife  ' 


It  was  not  for  your  head. 
And  so  you  would  let  none  wear  it,  but 
fling  it  away  instead. 


Con  ALL 's  Wife 
But  you  shall  answer  for  it,  for  you've 
robbed  my  man  by  this. 


84  TEE  GBEEN  HELMET 

CONALL 

You  have  robbed  us  both,  Cuchulain. 

Laegaire 
The  greatest  wrong  there  is 
On  the  wide  ridge  of  the  world  has  been 
done  to  us  two  this  day. 

Emer 
[Drawing  her  dagger] 
Who  is  for  Cuchulain  ? 

Cuchulain 

Silence ! 

Emer 

Who  is  for  Cuchulain,  I  say? 

[She  sings  the  same  words  as  be- 
fore, flourishing  her  dagger 
about.  While  she  is  singing, 
Con  all's  Wife  and  Laegaire  *s 


AND  OTHEB  POEMS  85 

Wife  draw  their  daggers  and  run 
at  her,  but  Cuchulain  forces 
them  hack.  Laegaire  and  Conall 
draw  their  sivords  to  strike  Cu- 
chulain] 

Laegaire  *s  Wife 

[Crying  out  so  as  to  he  heard 
through  Emer's  singing^ 

Deafen  her  singing  with  horns ! 

Conall's  Wife 
Cry  aloud !  blow  horns !  make  a  noise ! 

Laegaire  *s  Wife 

Blow  horns,  clap  hands,  or  shout,  so  that 

you  smother  her  voice ! 

[The  Horse  Boys  and  Scullions 
hlow  their  horns  or  fight  among 
themselves.  There  is  a  deafening 
noise  and  a  confused  fight.  Sud- 
denly  three   hlack   haiids   come 


86  TBE  GBEEN  HELMET 

through  the  windows  and  put  out 
the  torches.  It  is  now  pitch  dark, 
hut  for  a  faint  light  outside  the 
house  which  merely  shows  that 
there  are  moving  forms,  but  not 
who  or  what  they  are,  and  in  the 
darkness  one  can  hear  low  terri- 
fied voices] 

A  Voice 
Coal-black,  and  headed  like  cats,  they 
came  up  over  the  strand. 

Another  Voice 
And  I  saw  one  stretch  to  a  torch  and 
cover  it  with  his  hand. 

Another  Voice 
Another  sooty  fellow  has  plucked  the 
moon  from  the  air. 

[A  light  gradually  comes  into  the 
house  from  the  sea,  on  which  the 
moon  begins  to  show  once  more. 


AND  OTHER  POEMS  87 

There  is  no  light  within  the 
house,  and  the  great  beams  of 
the  ivalls  are  dark  and  full  of 
shadows,  and  the  persons  of  the 
play  dark  too  against  the  light. 
The  Red  Man  is  seen  standing  in 
the  midst  of  the  house.  The 
black  cat-headed  Men  crouch  and 
stand  about  the  door.  One  car- 
ries the  Helmet,  one  the  great 
sword] 

Red  Man 
I  demand  the  debt  that^s  owing.    Let 

some  man  kneel  down  there 
That  I  may  cut  his  head  off,  or  all  shall 

go  to  wrack. 

CUCHULAIN 

He  played  and  paid  with  his  head  and 
it's  right  that  we  pay  him  back, 

And  give  him  more  than  he  gave,  for  he 
comes  in  here  as  a  guest : 


88  TEE  GBEEN  HELMET 

So  I  will  give  him  my  head. 

[Emer  begins  to  keen] 
Little  wife,  little  wife,  be  at  rest. 
Alive  I  have  been  far  off  in  all  lands 

under  sun. 
And  been  no  faithful  man ;  but  when  my 

story  is  done 
My  fame  shall  spring  up  and  laugh,  and 
set  you  high  above  all. 

Emer 
[Putting  her  arms  about  him] 
It  is  you,  not  your  fame,  that  I  love. 

CUCHULAIN 

[Tries  to  put  her  from  him] 
You  are  young,  you  are  wise,  you  can  call 
Some  kinder  and  comelier  man  that  will 
sit  at  home  in  the  house. 


AND  OTHER  POEMS  89 

Emer 
Live  and  be  faithless  still. 

CUCHULAIN 

[Throwing  her  from  him] 
Would  you  stay  the  great  barnacle-goose 
When  its  eyes  are  turned  to  the  sea  and 
its  beak  to  the  salt  of  the  air  ? 

Emer 
[Lifting  her  dagger  to  stab  herself] 
I,  too,  on  the  grey  wing^s  path. 

CuCHULAIN 

[Seizing  dagger] 

Do  you  dare,  do  you  dare,  do  you  daret 

Bear  children  and  sweep  the  house. 

[Forcing  his  way  through  the  Ser- 
vants icho  gather  round] 


90  TBE  GBEEN  HELMET 

Wail,  but  keep  from  the  road. 

[He  kneels  before  Red  Man.  There 

is  a  pause] 

Quick  to  your  work,  old  Radish,  you  will 

fade  when  the  cocks  have  crowed. 

[A  black  cat-headed  Man  holds  out 
the  Helmet.  The  Red  Man  takes 
it] 

Red  Man 
I  have  not  come  for  your  hurt,  I'm  the 

Rector  of  this  land. 
And  with  my  spitting  cat-heads,  my 

frenzied  moon-bred  band, 
Age  after  age  I  sift  it,  and  choose  for  its 

championship 

The  man  who  hits  my  fancy. 

[He  places  the  Helmet  on  Cuchu- 
lain's  head] 


AND  OTHER  POEMS  91 

And  I  choose  the  laughing  lip 

That  shall  not  turn  from  laughing  what- 
ever rise  or  fall, 

The  heart  that  grows  no  bitterer  al- 
though betrayed  by  all ; 

The  hand  that  loves  to  scatter ;  the  life 
like  a  gambler's  throw; 

And  these  things  I  make  prosper,  till  a 
day  come  that  I  know, 

When  heart  and  mind  shall  darken  that 
the  weak  may  end  the  strong, 

And  the  long  remembering  harpers  have 
matter  for  their  song. 


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